Darkness at Dawn Part 41
Trowa squinted out over the horizon through a fine rain, pausing for a moment to look back out over the remnants of Quatre's great army. He snorted in disgust. "We need to be moving faster." He sniffed the air, his face screwing up in disgust. "There was no reason to make camp so early - we could keep moving well into the twilight hours," he complained to his brother, Treize, at his side.
The ginger-haired man smiled and shook his head. It had been a full week since the last battle, but the army was still two days out of Sandrock, and everyone's nerves were frazzled. Most of the Army of Shadows had surrendered in the face of Duo's power and the death of their general, but a large enough number had escaped and were now following them, ambushing the cumbersome army and its baggage train whenever and wherever they could. "Patience, brother. Even Duo cannot raise the dead, so the fewer people who get killed for being stupid, the better. You know that."
Trowa rolled his eyes. "Doesn't mean I like it."
"Of course not!" Treize leaned closer and threw one drenched arm out to pat his brother on the back. "Neither do I, but we can't change it, so why bother worrying?"
"Wufei's philosophy is rubbing off on you."
"That's not the only thing that's rubbing..."
"You can stop that thought right there!" Trowa exclaimed, not needing to look at the leering glint in his brother's eyes to know it was there.
On his other side, Barton let out a loud laugh, watching his kinsman slowly turn pink. "Heavens, boy! There are times when I think he is more Dawnchild than you are! Do you honestly think that we don't know what happens between you and the Raberba nightly in the King's tent..."
Trowa snorted. "You just wait. Someday when you're not expecting it..."
"Not expecting what?" Duo asked, trotting up alongside them with Quatre.
Trowa shot him a look. "Treize is more of a Dawnchild than I am, according to my great and wise relative, here."
The braided creature shook his head. "I wouldn't say that. I'd say you're more subtle than he is, and let it go at that." He spurred his horse and took off towards the front of the camp, where the infirmary carts were unloading for the night.
The others watched him leave, their good moods diminished. Wufei shook his head. "It's almost as though it hurts him too much to even be around us, anymore."
Quatre's clear blue eyes remained locked to his kinsman. "It reminds him of what he had in his grasp, and then let go, poor soul." He frowned sharply. "It isn't right. He doesn't deserve this..."
"Neither of them deserved it," Lucas cut in, "but Heero would tell us to have faith in the Plan and to be strong."
"He's not here to tell us a thing. He's not here for the one person who needs him," Quatre said, eyes darkening in anger. "What kind of an angel could do this to the man he loves?"
"One with a great deal of faith in his Lord, his lover and himself," Lucas replied, fixing the young King with a sad look. "I just hope Duo can learn the same faith before it gets too late."
Everyone felt a shiver at the Dawnchild's words, and Trowa ventured to ask, "What do you mean?"
Lucas fixed the half-breed with a hard look. "Before it eats him up inside, and he shuts himself into a darkness of his own."
~*~
Heero furtively looked over his shoulder as he stepped out into the vast gardens surrounding the Palace of the Seraphim. Upon his return to Heaven, he'd quickly found that the ache in his chest was not going to dissipate, and the only way he could ease the pain was...
Reaching into his tunic, he pulled out a small, drawstring pouch containing a fine, opaline powder. His eyes taking on a haunted, longing look, he dashed to a small pond and threw a pinch in. "Show me Duo. Please."
He went pale as the calm waters swirled and opened to show an image of the Lower Realm; the pain in his heart eased instantly as a figure, its head bowed and cloaked, looked up, and violet eyes seemed to stare straight into his soul. "Guardians..."
It was night time and a fine rain was still falling on a vast, sleeping camp. In the distance, the Angel could make out the hulking forms of sentries, trying in vain to hold torches aloft and see out into the gloom. Duo was sitting out on the very edge of a nearby stand of trees, water pouring down his hood as he simply... stared. It was odd that the one thing that could ease Heero's pain made it worse at the same time - he felt tears in his eyes as he took in his lover's forlorn, empty expression.
Duo was a creature made for laughing and for smiles, not for this deadened... nothingness.
The one comfort the Dawnchild seemed to be giving himself was perched on the ground in front of him, sheltered by his body from wind and water. Even Cree's splendid plumage seemed dreary as the bird rubbed his head into his master's caressing hand.
"Duo, Guardians, I wish you could hear me..." His voice died in his throat. Heero clenched his fists to keep from touching the water and ending his vision. He'd tried to reach the Dawnchild along the Dream Road, but Duo was either not sleeping at all or completely closed-off to anything that used to give him any sort of joy. From the paleness of his normally-glowing skin, Heero knew it was more a lack of sleep than anything else.
Heero had shunned the company of his fellow angels since his return, and had barely spoken a word to anyone. It wasn't just the pain in his heart that kept him cloistered; he had felt something else upon his return, and it frightened him deeply.
Mixed in with the wonder that he knew he would always feel upon returning to the Higher Realm was a dark, painful resentment of it. It was beautiful, yes, and perfect and beyond imagination... But for the first time in his long existence, Heero had not wanted to return home. It was no longer his ideal - it was too perfect, too pretty...
And not beautiful enough, at the same time. In fact, Heero couldn't help looking up at the magnificent, colourful glass windows and noticing that the violet panes were grey and dull in comparison with...
With a cry of dismay, Heero stopped himself too late, and the image of Duo evaporated as he touched the water longingly. He wrapped his arms tightly around his chest and refused to allow himself to cry - this was who and what he was, and he'd known this would happen, long before he'd even met Duo...
He'd seen it in the Dawnchild's eyes. Duo could have kept him on Earth with him, and part of Heero's resentment focused in on that. Duo had let him go, knowing how much it would hurt him. He'd allowed it to happen...
"So much pain, Little One. Don't you know that letting you go was the greatest sign of his love for you your Dawnchild could have given?"
Heero spun in shock - one of the High Seraphs stood at his back, a graceful smile on his fair face and serene eyes. He bowed immediately. "I am sorry, my Lord, I know I am not supposed to be here..."
"But you are here, Heero Yuy," the angel responded, arching one fine eyebrow. "You know these vision pools are forbidden to all but the Council, yet you came here, nonetheless. We have been watching you. He has been watching you, very closely. We know what you have been doing, and now that I look in your eyes I can see what you are feeling."
Heero's mind went numb. Please, do not look deeper! Give me my peace and my duty...
Later, Heero would swear he almost thought he'd seen compassion on that fair face as golden eyes bore into his.
The Seraph gestured, and two other angels stepped forward on either side of Heero. "You will retire to your rooms now, and remain there until you can be judged," the Seraph said, gently taking the small bag from Heero's hand.
Heero's jaw flapped open. "But... but I..."
The Seraph shook its head. "I am sorry, Heero. Though I can understand your pain and I feel for you, you do not belong here, and sense within you... something that is not right. You will return in one week's time to be judged. I have spoken."
Heero had no choice but to bow his head in submission - to defy a Seraph of the Council was almost the greatest sin one of his kind could commit. "As you wish, so shall it be."
A gentle hand touched his head in blessing before the tall Seraph seemed to float away, so graceful were his movements.
Heero could still feel the presence of the two at his side, and he looked up again, casting a longing glance at the pool where he'd last seen Duo's face. "I am ready."
He never saw the looks of pity on his companions' faces.
~*~
Duo woke with a start to find that he was well-wrapped and cradled in a set of strong arms. He began struggling immediately. "What..."
"Hush, Duo, you're fine," the calm, smooth voice of his friend Treize soothed him as the tall man's arms tightened around him. "You are lucky, you know."
"How did you..."
Treize gave a grim half smile. "Cree came and found us." His arms tightened again. "You could have been attacked out there, you know. I don't recall immortality being among your new-found powers, Duo."
The Dawnchild sighed and didn't bother struggling. He was simply too tired for it. "I..."
Treize stopped walking and looked down at him, blue eyes flashing even in the darkness around them. "I hope I don't have to tell you that Heero definitely doesn't want you trying to kill yourself down here, just because he's gone."
Duo's eyes flashed in return. "I'm not..."
"Oh, really?" Treize resumed walking, arms tight like a vice around the Dawnchild's body. "What do you call all of this, then? You barely talk to anyone anymore, you don't smile, you never laugh, and don't think any of us haven't noticed that you don't sleep, either. Even powerful people can die of exposure, Duo. What were you thinking, staying out on your own like that in the rain?!"
Duo shivered and ducked in closer to Treize's embrace. He closed his eyes in exhaustion. "Please, Treize. Don't."
The tall man frowned, but Duo was surprised by a voice speaking from right next to them. How was it that he didn't notice that Wufei was with them? "If he won't, then I will. Tell me something, Lord Maxwell. How exhausted must you be that you didn't even know I was here? This is ridiculous, and we aren't going to let you do this to yourself."
Duo tucked himself closer into Treize's embrace. "I just... I miss him so much," he said in such a small voice it was barely audible. "Every time I close my eyes, I see his face, and every time I see him I just want to die, it hurts so much."
Treize stopped walking and looked down at the Dawnchild in his arms, his eyes filled with compassion. "Duo, listen to me. Heero loved you; it was obvious to us all. I'm sure he still does, and it would kill him to see you like this. You must have faith."
Treize met Wufei's eyes as he felt the slim body in his arms trembling with tears. Slowly, carefully, the two walked their friend back to camp.
~*~
Noin stepped into her brother's tent the next morning and gave him a broad smile. "Good morning, Quatre, Trowa."
Quatre gave his sister a smile. "You're awfully cheerful this morning, Noin." He stepped to her side and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Something you want to tell us?"
The young woman shot Trowa a look when the tall half-breed almost choked on a laugh. "Quatre..."
The blond looked at his lover in confusion. "What is it?"
Trowa shook his head. "Please don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet, Quatre."
"Figured out what?"
Trowa gave Noin a bow. "He's your brother. You explain it to him."
Quatre shot both incredulous looks, his heart beating faster as he took in his sister's blushing cheeks.
Noin sat on a camp chair, her hands folded in her lap. "Quatre, you have to hear me out before you do anything... You made certain I would be safe, these last few weeks. You assigned me a fantastic protector, who treated me like a real person, not like I was made of glass. And he has been a perfect gentleman to me, but..."
Trowa stepped in as the frustrated Princess' words stumbled to a halt. "What she is trying to say is that she and her guard, Abdul of the Man'gua'nacs, have developed an affection for one another. I can't believe you of all people didn't see it!"
Quatre's jaw dropped open. "A-Abdul?"
Trowa rolled his eyes fondly. "Yes, the same."
Quatre's wide, surprised eyes turned on his sister. "Is this true?"
She blushed. "Quatre, please don't be upset. He has been perfectly respectful and gentlemanly..."
He stood and walked to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder to silence her. "Noin, hush. I'm not upset. Did you truly think I would be?"
"But he's..."
Quatre smiled and shook his head ruefully. "My dear sister, stop. Abdul... I would not have guessed at it, but now that you've told me... I'm happy for you, and I tell you what. I'll even help break the news to Rashid and keep your man alive when he finds out about it..."
"Guardians!" Noin dropped her face in her hands.
Over her head, Quatre and Trowa exchanged smiles. "Don't worry about it, Noin," Trowa reassured her. "Your brother is the King, after all."
She looked up and gave him a shy smile.
~*~
Duo woke slowly, blinking in the half-light of dawn. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he sat up slowly -
He was in Treize and Wufei's tent, wrapped up warmly in a cloak and a blanket. He felt his heart brimming over as he looked down at the two, tangled with each other as they slept. The two had held him as he cried the night before, cradled him between them - they opened their hearts to him so freely and without reservation-
Duo smiled. He didn't know how he deserved such friends, but he was honoured to have them.
Affected by the first good mood Duo'd been in since the Battle, Treize and Wufei pulled each other closer, the larger man nuzzling his partner's silky, dark hair.
The Dawnchild stood and silently wrapped himself in his cloak before stepping out into the chilly morning air. He had a lot to think about.
"CREE!" The rising sun's light glinted off of a bird's spread wings as Cree swooped out of the sky. Duo held out his arm, and the bird swooped gracefully out of the sky.
Duo smiled at the bird fondly. "I hear you were the one to turn me in last night, my friend."
Cree looked him in the eye as he chirped softly. ~I know you miss your Wings, but when you withdraw, we all miss you. You forgot about us, Dawnchild.~
Duo trembled slightly. ~I know, and for that I am sorry.~
The bird nipped his fingers gently. ~Do not forget it again. There are many here that care about you.~
Duo stroked the bird's head. "I care about you, too, my friend."
~*~
Noin rode up to the infirmary carts, her hood thrown back. "Good morning, Lady Sally," she called airily. Trotting up to the main cart, she reached out a hand and knocked on the wooden post.
A tousled head popped out the flap in the wagon, and Lady Relena gave her a reserved smile. "Back so soon, Noin? He is three carts back," she said with a knowing smile.
Noin didn't bother blushing - she'd been at Abdul's side since she'd somehow managed to pull him to Solo's back, and as such she'd spent an ample amount of time with the Healers, helping with many tasks as her knight slept off the pain of his wounds. She turned her horse and rode back past the other wagons.
Even with the healing magic of both Duo and Sally, Abdul's wounds had been terrible. Though he grumbled now about riding in the carts, Noin knew that he did not yet have the strength to ride. He looked up as she cantered to his side, and gave her an open smile. "Good morning to you, Noin! To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Ha - as though she has not been at your side every day, human," the huntress grumbled, a spark of good humour glowing in her strange eyes. "Good morning to you, Lady."
Noin smiled. Berani had been barely breathing when Noin found her on the battlefield. The Huntress' injuries had been so severe that she's been helpless to aid Roth on the battlefield as he was surrounded and dragged down by sheer numbers. She had been weeping as the princess found her, tears mixing with the dirt and blood on her face. She looked one million times better by now, though something still shadowed her eyes. "How are you feeling, Huntress?"
"I would feel much better if you and yours would permit me out of this contraption..."
Abdul rolled his eyes. "To do what, Lady? You are in worse shape than I, if such is possible."
"Please don't remind me," Berani groaned, collapsing back into her blankets brokenly.
Noin and Abdul shared a grin as the young woman rode closer and reached out a hand. Abdul clasped it in his own. She gave him a bashful smile. "I thought you should know... I saw my brother this morning..."
"Oh, Guardians, please tell me you didn't..."
Noin shook her head ruefully. "Relax, Abdul. He took it quite well, and if he hadn't Lord Trowa was there with him and would have prevented him from doing anything rash."
Abdul clasped her hand gently in his own. "And Rashid?"
Noin drew closer alongside the wagon and leaned from her saddle. "You worry far too much, Abdul." She pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
~*~
Solo looped one last time over the great battlefield. The field was still stained red with the blood of the fallen - the dragon had stayed there long after the army had left, standing a silent sentry over the graves of the dead. But it was time to go, now.
He flexed his injured wing with a grunt of satisfaction - the Fire Lord had spent long hours healing his ancient flesh from Dark Spells so powerful that even Duo had been hard put to break them. But he was strong again. Strong and hale.
With a roar of exhilaration, he was off the ground, hurtling through the air.
~*~
At the head of the column, Quatre Raberba and his companions rode with their hoods thrown back, basking in the sun.
Zechs and Dorothy joined them, both blonds looking happy and relaxed as they rode, side by side. Wufei gave his friend a gentle smile. "You two were missed at breakfast."
Dorothy blushed slightly, but Zechs merely raised an eyebrow. "We were busy, my friend. Our apologies."
From his place at Duo's side, Weyridge chuckled. "That's what Rory said when he went past your tent to invite you to join us..."
Dorothy buried her face in her hands. "Is it impossible to keep anything a secret in this camp?"
Duo shook his head. "I'm afraid so, Dorothy-friend. I wouldn't worry too much, though. I'd say most females on this excursions are probably jealous. A few of the men, too."
"Oh, look! Epyon's blushing," Howard chuckled, his broken arm firmly strapped to his chest.
Zechs said nothing, but raised Dorothy's fingers to his lips for a gentle kiss.
Smiling at the couple, Quatre remembered a conversation from early that morning, and turned to the Captain of his Man'gua'nacs. "Rashid, I need a word with you."
The tall man was there almost immediately. "My lord?"
Quatre caught Trowa's eye as he took a deep breath. "I need to talk to you about one of your men, in whose performance I am very well satisfied, and who has earned the admiration of another member of my family..."
Duo smiled to himself sadly and murmured quickly to Shadow, "Let's go, my friend." He gave the horse a few gentle, affectionate slaps to his neck. "Please, let's get away from here for just a while."
The horse nickered softly and tossed his head. ~Duo-friend, you should not be...~
"Please, Shadow. I just... I need to get away. Please." Duo dropped his reins and gripped the horse's mane.
Shadow tossed his head and bolted forward, his master clinging to him with his eyes shut tight.
~*~
Wufei,, Treize, Zechs, Dorothy and Weyridge looked up in concern as Shadow took off like a shot. Cursing to himself, Zechs gathered his reins-
"No, let him go, my boy," Weyridge said, putting a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Besides, you would never catch Shadow if he's going full out."
Treize frowned. "He shouldn't be off on his own, for pity's sake..."
Wufei nodded. "He won't be, though. Look," he said, pointing up into the sky. High above them, a streak of gold shot after the fleeing horse and his cavalier.
Weyridge shook his head. "This just isn't right. It's just not fair..."
"No," Dorothy said, "but that's the way it is. All we can do is watch him and be there for him when he needs us."
If he doesn't shut us out completely, you mean, Wufei thought darkly. Frowning into sunlight that no longer seemed as bright or beautiful, he whispered onto the wind, "Heero, we need you."
TBC...
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